Museum–University Partnerships as a New Platform for Public Engagement with Scientific Research

A growing trend in natural history museums, science museums, and science centers is the establishment of innovative new partnerships with universities to bring scientific research to the public in compelling and transformative ways. The strengths of both kinds of institutions are leveraged in effective and publicly visible programs, activities, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math-related educational experiences. Overall, these partnerships are intended to maximize lifelong, life-wide, and life-deep learning and to invite public participation in citizen science research projects. Two main examples of progressive academia–museum partnerships are profiled: the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with campuses of the University of North Carolina System, and the Center of Science and Industry with Ohio State University. Several additional examples of similar partnerships are cited, demonstrating the growing significance of museum–university associations.